Pickin' Cotton - Pacing Birding Spots - Pico Salsa Potatoes

Not much happened here over the weekend...tho time flew by so quickly!!

I went walking early Sunday Morning after driving to Mustang Island and traipsing the popular birding areas. Boy, was I ever speechless when I walked the trail at Charlie's Pasture North!! There is a pavilion at the beginning of the walkway. It's built in front of the lake for a pretty view....at least when it's a much 'wetter' season. As I approached the pavilion, to check on the swallow nests...the lake was no longer in existence! The drought...well, the lake was completely dry! I couldn't believe it. I was there just about a month ago, and there was water. Now...sadly, the land is parched. I walked the entire boardwalk [about 3 miles* round trip *on the boardwalk] and the salt flats are barren. Way off toward the western horizon, there was a patch of water. I decided to get off the boardwalk and walk the flats toward the water to see if I could stir up some bird life without scaring up any rattlesnakes. Besides, getting off the elevated walk, I'd acquire MORE steps to my tally.

THIS USED TO BE A LAKE!
Abundant with Water birds/Waders



OFF THE BEATEN PATH - Salt Flats
Once I hit the little water...
Many Terns scolded me as they took to flight!

Paradise pond was completely dry too! There was a little bit of mud in the center, busy with a few Lesser Yellowlegs [a sandpiper-like bird] and several Killdeer.

KILLDEER [male in front to the left, female in back]
What used to be filled with pond water - now only a muddy patch!

As I was so disheartened by all this that I saw, it's such a pretty spot with only 2 acres of 'paradise' banked with willow trees and filled birdsong. I decided to just head back home. Besides it was getting on in the morning and the island traffic builds up quickly for those beach revelers heading in with their boats and fishing equipment. As I left the birding areas and turned on the highway, the large overhanging digital signal noted a 45 minute wait for the vehicle transport on the ferries!! Normally it's a five minute wait. Yep, too many on the island for my taste. Home is where the heart is!!

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I took the long way around town to check out the nearby cotton crop. A few weeks ago I posted the flowers and the bolls readying to ripen - "ripe for the pickin'!" I pulled off onto the access road and stopped, taking out my cellphone and walked over to snap a few photos for the update. I'm sure very soon there will be a pretty good harvest from this few acres as with all the huge crops in the back country!!

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Once home, a plate of fresh fruit [cantaloupe, blueberries, strawberries and kiwi] was devoured for lunch. I then sat down with my sketch pad. If I can't SEE very many birds, I grab my pencil and SKETCH birds!! For this work, I chose one that I would LOVE to sight and photograph. It's not a land bird tho. For the most part, around the Texas Gulf Coast, they're usually spotted out to sea; rarely ashore. So, of course, for me it'd be a 'lifer' to find one along the coast shoreline, resting its weary wings from a long flight! 

NORTHERN GANNET
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Keeping myself occupied for the remaining afternoon hours, I then read some and soon it was time to make dinner. Usually this meal is more on the lines of vegetarian, but this time I added some ground, Mexican seasoned turkey. It was delicious. And so very simple to make; yet very filling. I served along with it orange jello with banana slices. For dessert Bud and I shared a double fudge chocolate muffin. [chocolate with chocolate chips!]

SALSA SPUD
It's easy peasy!
Peel and dice into large portions, fresh avacado - set aside
Chop fresh tomato and jalapeno peppers
Dice a slice of white onion
...mix together, tomato, peppers and onion for Pico Salsa
Brown turkey [beef can be used - or go completely vegetarian]
Grated sharp cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce
Wash and clean baking potato [size I use is large]
Pierce potato and bake in microwave according to size = 2 Large/10-12 minutes

WHEN POTATO IS DONE top with above ingredients, serve piping hot!
One potato per serving.